Thursday, February 26, 2015

District staff visited a tract of land in the recharge zone of the Barton springs segment of the Edwards aquifer with access to Onion Creek. Staff conducted two flow measurements about 1.5 miles apart. The upstream measurement was of 25 cfs, while the downstream measurement was of 4 cfs. The difference between the amount of flow at the two locations is due to a number of important karst features in the creek bed that are providing water to the aquifer, thus recharging groundwater.

Below see the hydrograph for Lovelady monitor well which shows water levels continuing to rise.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

No DroughtLovelady monitor well: 483.4 ft-mslBarton Springs 10-day avg discharg: 82 cfsOn January 29th the District Board of Directors voted to end the drought declaration that had been place since August last year. The
last few months of 2014 brought with them fairly consistent rain and cold
winter temperatures which minimized water lost to evapotranspiration. These conditions
were prime for generating runoff and sustained flow in the creeks where most of
the recharge to the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer occurs. As a
result, water levels in the aquifer have been on the rise since mid-November. Almost 5.5 inches of rain fell at the District office in January, continuing the wet trend seen towards the end of 2014 and further contributing to recharging the aquifer. Flow at Barton Springs appears to be peaking at around 82 cfs, whereas Lovelady monitor well water level continues to rise. The Climate
Prediction Center places a 50-60% chance El Niño conditions developing during the remaining
winter months of 2015, which generally mean wetter conditions in central Texas.
Fortunately, we have been able to exit drought even without the help of an El
Niño. While it’s nice to have aquifer
levels above drought levels and for groundwater users to be relieved of drought
restrictions for a while, one look at the highland lakes shows that drought
conditions remain of looming concern here in central Texas.

Drought Rules

Either Barton Springs OR the Lovelady Well can trigger a drought declaration by the Board. However, BOTH Barton Springs AND the Lovelady Well must be above their respective drought trigger levels to exit a drought declaration.